Lock.



PATENTED APR. 14, 1903.

J. SPEBR.

LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JULY l2, 1901.

N0 MODEL.

w: Nonms PETERS co, PHmQLxwo., wnsnmmom nA c4 UNrTnn JOIIN SPEER, OFPITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

LOCK.

SEEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 725,290,1dated April14, 1903. Application filed .Inly 127.1901. Serial No. 68,028. I(lilomodel.)

T0 @Z5 wiz/0771, fm/(ty concer/L.' Be it known that I, JOHN SPEEmacitize of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburg, in thecounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Locks; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings,

which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in locksfor couplings and valves, and has for its object the provision of novelmeans whereby couplings are securely locked and cannot be removed fromthe pipe unless the lock is first removed.

The invention further aims to apply the device to valve-stems and thelike, preventing the same from being tampered with by outside persons.

Heretofore it has been a difficult matter to control the supply of gasand the like, the couplings being tampered with to make counectionsbefore the gas enters the meter and also close certain valves todiminish the supply of gas and the like.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome all suchdifficulties by providing a lock that will render bot-h the couplingsand valves inaccessible unless the lock is first removed.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in thenovel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fullydescribed, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,aud whereinlike numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views, in Which- Figure l is a side elevation of a pipe, showingin dotted lines a coupling or union having my improved lock appliedthereto in position. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the lock proper withmyimproved lock removed therefrom. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of thevalve, showing in vertical section the valve-stem having my improvedlock applied in position thereto. Fig. 4. is a plan view looking intoone of the hinged sections forming the lock. Figs.

and G are side elevations of the lock valvecasing as shown in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings.

In the drawings the reference-numeral l indicates the two sections ofpipe having a coupling 2 interposed therebetween.

lhe lock or casing is composed of two sections 3 and 3, section 3carrying an integral contracted extension e at its upper end. At theupper extremity of this extension is a hook portion 4. Section 3'likewise carries an extension 3, which is cutaway vto receive theextension 4 and the hook portion 4,which engages with a cross-piece 4,carried by the extension 3, forming a hinge connection between the twosections when in theirnormal position. The lower extremities of thesetwo sections are provided with extensions 6 and 7, havingregisteringapertures for the reception of the padlock 5. Extension 3"extends outwardly and then forward at a substantial right angle to themajor portion of the extension, the cut-away portion of this extensionforming legs which engage the upper portion of the extension 4.. Thecrosspiece 4" is located or formed integral with the extension 3" at theouter end of the rightangular portion thereof and extends sufficientlybelow the upper end of this right-angular member to permit the hook 4'to seat on theupper side of this cross-piece, the hook engaging betweenthe legs of the extension 3 and extending flush with the upperend of theextension 3. Thus the hook portion is incased 4by the extension 3 and isconsequently protected by the latter. rlhe said casing 3 and 3 whenclosed entirely incases the coupling,said casing having formedthereinsuitable openings 9 to allow the pipe to pass therethrough. p

The reference-numerallO indicates a collar when the device is to beapplied to a valve, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The manner ofoperating my improved lock is as follows: The two sectionsbeing hinged together are slipped over the pipe inelosing the couplingand are then securely locked together by means of the padlock, as shownin Fig. l of the drawings. The coupling cannot be tampered with, as willbe readily understood.

The device, as shown in Fig. 3of the drawings, merely carries a head 10,performing the ICO same function upon the valve-stem as heretoforedescribed for inclosing the coupling. The said valve-casing ispreferably formed as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings,although the latter may be modified in varions ways without departingfrom the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A device of the type set forth, comprising a casing formed of twosections, an outward-contracted extension carried by one end of one ofthe sections and having a hook portion formed integral with its outerend', an outward extension of greater width than the first-namedextension formed integral with the other section, said last-namedextension being cut away to form legs between which said contractedextension is received, the upper end of the second-named extensionextending forwardly at right angles to the said legs thereof, across-piece carried by the said.

right-angular portion ofthe said extension on its outer end, and beinglocated below lthe upper side of the said portion, to receive the hookportion and permit the latter to extend flush with the upper sides ofsaid rightangular portion, and outward-extendingapertured legs carriedon the opposite ends of the sectending below the hand-wheel of thevalvestem, and a second casing comprising two sections having a hingedconnection with each other, one of saidlast-narned sections having ahead-formed integral therewith,said head being apertured and engagingover the upper end of sa'id first-named casing and seating on the upperedge thereof, and a lock for securing the sections of the first-namedcasing together.

In testimony whereofl have hereunto affixed my signature in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN SPEER.

Witnesses:

JOHN GROETZINGER, M. HUNTER.

